Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Program (NSWCP)
The Soil and Water Conservation Fund was created in 1977 to provide financial assistance to private landowners for installation of soil and water conservation practices. Various conservation practices are eligible for cost-share assistance. The Natural Resources Commission determines the list of eligible practices, establishes operating procedures, and annually allocates the funds among the 23 Natural Resource Districts (NRDs). The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical assistance needed in planning and installing the conservation measures. NRDs are responsible for the administration of the program at the local level.
The objective of the Nebraska Soil & Water Conservation Fund is to promote efforts by landowners to better manage and conserve the State’s natural resources. Funds allocated to natural resources districts (NRDs) are used to reimburse landowners for up to 50 percent of costs incurred in implementing conservation practices approved by the Natural Resources Commission and deemed appropriate by each NRD for conditions in their jurisdictions.
The cost share rate in the Upper Loup NRD is 50% of the actual cost or 50% of the average cost, whichever is less. Cost share is limited $4,500 per producer per year. Sign-up is year around as long as funds are available. Signing a cost share application does not guarantee approval of cost share funds. Upper Loup NRD Board of Directors will review all applications at their next meeting and make approvals based upon the cost of the practice and the conservation benefit provided. Funding is not provided for any practices started prior to receiving written approval from the Upper Loup NRD. Landowner agrees that if any or all of the installed practices shall be removed, altered, or modified so as to lessen their effectiveness without consent of the NRD for a period of ten years after the date of receiving payment that a portion of the claimed amount shall be refunded to the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources.
Approved conservation practices in the Upper Loup NRD are:
NC-3 Water Impoundment Dams
NC-4 Grade Stabilization Structures
NC-6 Diversions
NC-7 Grassed Waterways
NC-8 Water & Sediment Control Basin
NC-10 Pasture Planting & Range Seeding
NC-11 Critical Area Planting (Grass)
NC-12 Windbreaks
NC-14 Planned Grazing Systems
NC-16 Windbreak Renovation
NC - 17 Irrigation Water Management
NC - 18 Stream Bank Stabilization
NC - 19 Repair of Practices
NC - 20 Brush Management